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American Life Image
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 483 Ratings

  • Summary: Madonna's second collaboration with French electronic producer Mirwais includes the lead single title track as well as her recent James Bond theme, "Die Another Day."

Top Track

Die Another Day
I'm gonna wake up Yes and no! I'm gonna kiss Some part of I'm gonna keep This secret I'm gonna close My body now I guess I die Another day I guess I... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 17
  2. Negative: 3 out of 17
  1. Aside from the thumping groove of "Nobody Knows Me" and a few other bouncy beats, much of the electro style Madonna experimented with on 2000's Music has been replaced with warmer sounds and earthy touches, like acoustic guitars and a choir that comes from nowhere on "Nothing Fails."
  2. Unlike recent collections Music and Ray of Light, the lyrical content of American Life relies less on spiritual introspection and more on woman-in-the-mirror confrontation.
  3. All perfectly good stuff, technically excellent. But 'American Life' also feels like an unnecessary sequel, a 'Men In Black II', made because hell, if it ain't broke...
  4. Q Magazine
    60
    It's a record about being Madonna. [Jun 2003, p.90]
  5. Overall, American Life is better for what it promises than what it delivers, and it's better in theory than practice.
  6. Blender
    60
    That's both the best and the worst thing about this album: The music is much more eloquent than the lyrics. [May 2003, p.112]
  7. Even modest expectations can't salvage the clunky, ponderous American Life, which fares only slightly better than "Hanky Panky" and Swept Away on her list of offenses.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 95 out of 106
  2. Negative: 4 out of 106
  1. Mar 26, 2012
    10
    American Life is Madonna's most underrated album. You can tell from reviews all around the web that it's a love it or hate it album. It'sAmerican Life is Madonna's most underrated album. You can tell from reviews all around the web that it's a love it or hate it album. It's definitely not in-your-face pop, so I would avoid this one if you're just looking for radio-friendly material. On this album, we see Madonna at her most vulnerable. From the cynical American Life to the touching Mother and Father, Madonna takes us on a tour of her world. I applaud her guts, especially for the American Life video, which raised controversy like never before. Notable tracks: American Life, Love Profusion, Nothing Fails, X-Static Process. Expand
  2. Aug 16, 2017
    10
    American Life es una de las joyas de Madonna sumamente increíbles, lamentablemente a los críticos no les parece lo mismo, este es de los pocosAmerican Life es una de las joyas de Madonna sumamente increíbles, lamentablemente a los críticos no les parece lo mismo, este es de los pocos álbumes que se pueden justificar el porque tienen un amarillo. American Life es la joya americana y un gran avance en la carrera de la reina del pop, aunque no era raro que ella hablara de lo que quisiera, es sin duda una reina entera. Expand
  3. Nov 23, 2021
    10
    Invented the flop era, the controversial era, and the woke era all at once. This has some of her worst work that she has ever put out.Invented the flop era, the controversial era, and the woke era all at once. This has some of her worst work that she has ever put out. "Sigmund Freud, analyze this", I'm looking right at you!
    At the same time, this has the best track run from any album in her catalogue. The Love Profusion to X-Static Process sequence is pure gold. Hollywood is a bit overrated, in my opinion. And the rap bits are kind of camp once you get used to them. In the end, you have nothing to lose, except time. This is really her ARTPOP if you really think about it.
    Expand
  4. AndrewL
    May 21, 2003
    9
    Give it a few listens before making up your mind. This is truly her best albulm.
  5. Apr 28, 2019
    9
    Let's get one thing clear. I don't like Madonna. Never have never will. Yes I like the odd album but I do not see the obsession. However, theLet's get one thing clear. I don't like Madonna. Never have never will. Yes I like the odd album but I do not see the obsession. However, the critical dismay that American Life has received is uncalled for. I personally prefer the more political pop stance that she adopted on this album and I think theme albums really suit her. I find her 80s and 90s music dross, anything past Hard Candy is embarrassing. I think her best three albums are American Life, Confessions and Ray of Light (maybe on par with Like a Prayer). I found the concept of American Life (the song) genius and the nice thing is that it is not in your face criticisms of the Republican Party- rather more implications which overall is successful as it does not fear an isolation of the listener. Expand
  6. BenjaminE
    Jan 14, 2004
    8
    I love Madonna very much, and I think this album is one of her best ones. She 's always changing her look and style and I like that. I love Madonna very much, and I think this album is one of her best ones. She 's always changing her look and style and I like that. This album is totally different from the previous ones. I gave her an 8 and not a 10 because there are some songs that i think are not in her style: (I'm so stupid). But hollwood is VEEERY Madonna, it's full of glamour (and ofcourse its music video helps). I was very surprised because of that american life music video thing. I saw pieces of the original one and I thought it was just FANTASTIC, but ... but I love the single though, especially the rap of it. Love profusion is not one of my favourite but i think its a good song and the music video is something i ve never seen before. My favourite single in this album is the last one: easy ride. I love orchestral music and this single has it all! I really appreciate the fact that now, finally, Madonna is changing for the best. Her lyrics talk about morality and she s telling us fans that she s in love in various ways (x-static process, Intervention, Love profusion and Nothing fails). The latter is simply beautiful! the pity is that she goes on repeting the same phrase... and by the way, I think that britney snog was a big mistake. From that point onwards, the hollywood single went down! She was looking for publicity (as she always do) and she got it, a bad one though! anyway, whatever she does or say, for me she's always be THE QUEEN OF POP. Expand
  7. Aug 24, 2022
    0
    Even modest expectations can't salvage the clunky, ponderous American Life. boring! Both lyrically and sonically it just feels flat, all through.

See all 106 User Reviews